Brick aims to limit housing intimidation
BRICK - Township officials, contending they are acting out of an abundance of caution, are considering new limits on when door-to-door canvassers can operate and what they can say to entice homeowners to sell their houses.
An ordinance to be introduced at the Township Council meeting on Tuesday seeks to deter "intimidation" and "acts or activities of any nature, the purpose of which is to coerce, cause panic, incite unrest, create or play upon fear ... to induce the sale or listing for sale of real property."
The ordinance also prohibits referring to race, ethnicity or religion in order to pressure the sale of a house or property. It would also ban the practice of advertising homes for sale that are not actually being sold.
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Council President Paul Mummolo said he knows of no Brick neighborhoods that are being targeted by real estate solicitors but said the council wants to be prepared to handle complaints like some that have arisen in neighboring towns. State and federal fair housing law already limits many of the targeted practices.
A number of nearby municipalities have passed similar measures, spurred by residents’ complaints of bullying real estate brokers and agents who make multiple visits. In Jackson, which recently strengthened its “no-knock” ordinance, officials denied the measure was targeted at any specific group, but residents said overly aggressive solicitors were working on behalf of an expanding Orthodox Jewish community.
As the Lakewood population has boomed, scores of New Yorkers have moved to the area to be close to Jewish amenities such as religious services, schools and kosher grocery stores. Some communities have pushed back against the pressure to sell. Lawn signs in some communities urge existing property owners to remain "strong" and hold onto their homes.
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Brick officials insist that the proposed measures are merely preventative. Existing measures already require neighborhood canvassers to be licensed through the township, which also has a "no-knock" list of addresses for homeowners who do not want to be bothered by solicitors. Violators of the no-knock list can have their licenses revoked for a year or may not be issued new ones in the future.
Mummolo said violators would also be subject to a court fine. Real estate solicitors are not able to obtain canvassing licenses in Brick, he said.
Under Brick's municipal codes, only licensed solicitors looking to sell goods or services and charitable, nonprofit or religious organizations that are registered with the town can go door to door.
"Times are changing," said Mummolo. "We've got to protect the citizens the best we can."
Brick's current municipal codes allow licensed solicitors to go door to door between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., or 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. If the proposed ordinance is adopted, soliciting hours would be reduced to between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier.
In addition, the new rule would prohibit children ages 16 and younger from going door to door without an adult present. Municipal officials received complaints in the past about teenagers from Newark peddling products door to door without having any clear identification, Mayor John G. Ducey said.
Though there are currently no complaints about real estate soliciting in Brick, "we figured since we're revising the same exact ordinance, we might as well be out in front of it," Ducey said.
The Township Council will introduce the ordinance at a meeting that will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the municipal building, 401 Chambersbridge Road.
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Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby@gannettnj.com